Alabama woman who is only person in the world with a functioning pig organ reaches record 2-month milestone
Towana Looney, a 53-year-old woman from Alabama, made history as the longest living person with a functioning pig organ transplant. Looney received a pig kidney transplant in November 2024 and has surpassed the record 61-day mark with her pig kidney, making her the only living recipient of a pig organ transplant to reach this milestone.
Despite being only the fifth person in the United States to receive an experimental pig organ transplant, Looney remains healthy and full of energy. Dr. Robert Montgomery of NYU Langone Health, who led Looney’s transplant, described her kidney function as “absolutely normal.” Looney has been staying in New York temporarily for post-transplant checkups, but doctors are optimistic that she will be able to return home to Gadsden, Alabama, in about a month.
The shortage of human organs available for transplants has led scientists to genetically alter pigs to make their organs more human-like. More than 100,000 people are on the U.S. transplant list, with the majority in need of a kidney. Thousands of individuals die waiting for a suitable organ. The Food and Drug Administration only allows pig organ transplants in special circumstances for those who have exhausted all other options.
Dr. Tatsuo Kawai of Massachusetts General Hospital, who led the world’s first pig kidney transplant last year, expressed the significance of Looney’s progress in informing future attempts at pig organ transplants. Looney’s unique circumstances, having donated a kidney to her mother in 1999 and experiencing pregnancy complications that led to kidney failure, presented a rare opportunity to test the effectiveness of pig organ transplants in highly sensitized individuals.
Despite initial signs of rejection in the weeks following the transplant, Montgomery’s team successfully treated Looney, and there have been no further signs of rejection. The longevity of Looney’s pig kidney remains uncertain, but doctors are closely monitoring her progress and are prepared to intervene if necessary.
As the medical community continues to learn from each case of pig organ transplants, Looney’s experience serves as a beacon of hope for those in need of life-saving transplants. Her resilience and determination to explore alternative options have paved the way for future advancements in organ transplantation.
